Lin Xiao, Lin Langtian

Late Heaven Origin Stage!

"Zhentian, you old fellow, you've got a fine son. Xiao'er is quite capable. If he can place among the top ten in this Clan Assembly, your Qingyang Town Branch Family will be able to return to the Lin Clan Inner Family."

Lin Tao looked at the brocade-clad young man standing with his hands at his sides in the Arena. He saw through the latter's strength at a glance and praised Lin Zhentian.

Lin Tao and Lin Zhentian had been companions since childhood. Their relationship had remained as friendly as ever over the years, never changing because of the vast gap in their strength and status.

Before Lin Zhentian, Lin Tao held none of the superiority expected of an Inner Clan Elder. He had always deeply sympathized with Lin Zhentian over his expulsion from the clan back then, but the Lin Clan's rules were what they were.

Lin Tao knew he could not be of much help to Lin Zhentian. All he could do was pray that his old friend would soon fulfill his wish.

Now that he had personally seen Lin Zhentian's outstanding son, Lin Xiao, and knew that Lin Zhentian had hope of fulfilling his wish, Lin Tao was greatly comforted.

"Not at all... not at all... There are many geniuses in the Inner Clan. Even if no one from the Three Creation Realms is participating in this Clan Assembly, there will likely still be geniuses at the Core Formation Realm. With Xiao'er's Late Heaven Origin Stage strength, reaching the top ten will probably still be rather difficult."

Lin Zhentian coughed, but as he watched Lin Xiao waiting quietly below in the Arena for the referee to announce his opponent, he suddenly began to worry for some reason.

Lin Tao understood this well and did not say anything more to add to his old friend's unease. Though Lin Zhentian's words lacked confidence, Lin Tao could still see the unconcealable hope on his wrinkled face...

"What a pity... Lin Xiao will face Lin Langtian in his very first match and be crippled. Lin Zhentian's wish cannot possibly be fulfilled through Lin Xiao."

Lin Chen murmured inwardly. Clearly, Lin Tao and Lin Zhentian's conversation had not escaped his senses. It was not that Lin Chen had deliberately eavesdropped; rather, his Spiritual Power cultivation was impressive not only within the Lin Clan, but even throughout the entire Great Yan Dynasty.

Four Symbol Master!

This level of Spiritual Power was enough to rival an ordinary peak Core Formation Realm expert, and it was also the only weak trump card Lin Chen currently possessed in this world.

A tree that stands out in the forest will be destroyed by the wind.

Compared to Origin Energy cultivation displayed openly for anyone to probe, ethereal Spiritual Power was far easier to conceal.

Lin Chen had not the slightest interest in the Lin Clan's internal struggles, much less did he want to be forced into them and scheme against others. In his eyes, diligent cultivation and increasing his own strength were what truly mattered.

Tianxuan Continent was a world where strength reigned supreme, but his goal was absolutely not limited to the peak of this world.

Time passed bit by bit. Within the enormous Arena, waves of Origin Energy surged without end. Beams of Origin Energy in all manner of colors flashed with dazzling brilliance, so radiant that those watching from outside could scarcely look away.

Whenever a powerful, deep shout rang out, deafening cheers erupted from the Arena, as though the victor in the ring were themselves.

Amid this fervent atmosphere, the mood in the Arena grew increasingly heated. Countless gazes were fixed on these young people from the Lin Clan and its Branch Families. Lin Chen, seated quietly in the stands, was naturally no exception.

However, matches between ordinary Lin Clan members could hardly draw Lin Chen's attention.

What interested Lin Chen was Lin Langtian, who was only a few years older than himself—the foremost genius of the Lin Clan, lavishly praised by many Elders and privately chosen as the champion of this Clan Assembly—as well as Lin Dong, who was sleeping against a woman in front of him.

At this time, Lin Dong was only six or seven years old. Naturally, he had no understanding of this Clan Assembly, much less any idea what the events about to unfold would mean for him.

"Match thirty-five, begin!"

"Lin Clan, Lin Langtian!"

"Qingyang Town Branch Family, Lin Xiao!"

Following the referee's low shout from the ring where Lin Xiao stood, the gazes of everyone in the inner stands gathered in unison and instantly turned toward Lin Xiao.

Clearly, the anticipation and attention were not due to Lin Xiao, but rather to Lin Langtian, the legendary figure of the Lin Clan in outsiders' eyes.

Opposite Lin Xiao, a youth in blue robes slowly approached with his hands clasped behind his back. He was handsome, with a faint chill on his face. His eyes were dark and bright, and an air of lofty arrogance naturally radiated from him.

"Qingyang Town Branch Family, Lin Xiao. Please..."

Looking at the youth who had stopped several yards away, Lin Xiao cupped his hands. Though an inexplicable unease had suddenly risen in his heart, he could not spare the thought for it.

He was his father's hope for returning to the Inner Clan, and the hero of Dong'er and his mother. No matter what, he had to place in the top ten of this Clan Assembly and fulfill his father's wish.

The thought was beautiful, but reality was harsh.

Having lived in a remote place like Qingyang Town, Lin Xiao naturally did not know of Lin Langtian's reputation as a genius. Although Lin Langtian's name was no great secret, that was only relative.

"Hmph..."

Lin Xiao received only a cold sneer from Lin Langtian. Lin Langtian had never regarded Branch Family members with any respect, so he naturally could not be bothered to say more.

"Is that Lin Langtian?!"

"How could Lin Xiao run into him in the first match..."

"Sigh... Xiao'er is afraid to be in serious trouble this time..."

Seeing the two facing each other in the ring, Lin Tao's heart tightened, and he could not help but sigh softly.

"Lin Langtian... How strong is he?"

Lin Zhentian asked Lin Tao in a deep voice, but his gaze never shifted from the ring where Lin Xiao and Lin Langtian stood.

The worried expression on his aged face revealed the turmoil in his heart. The expressions of the two middle-aged men behind him also tightened. As Lin Xiao's brothers, they naturally hoped that he would win.

Only Lin Dong's mother remained fairly calm. Perhaps it was because Lin Dong, a child exhausted by many days of travel, still needed rest, and she could not bear for him to be disturbed.

"You've spent so long in Qingyang Town that information about the Inner Clan has been cut off, so you know very little. Lin Langtian is the foremost genius of our Lin Clan. The reason no one from the Three Creation Realms is participating in this Clan Assembly is because of him..."

Just as Lin Tao's words fell—

Bang! Bang!

Two explosive sounds suddenly rang out from the ring. Powerful Origin Energy abruptly erupted from Lin Xiao and Lin Langtian.

The two figures immediately crossed paths. Golden light flashed, and Lin Xiao was sent flying backward in a miserable state. He flew straight out of the ring and crashed heavily onto the ground, instantly coughing up a mouthful of blood.

"Lin Clan, Lin Langtian wins!"

"Qingyang Town Branch Family, Lin Xiao loses!"

As the cold shout rang out, countless gazes shot toward the figure blasted out of the ring. Aside from the few who showed indifferent sympathy, the rest carried varying degrees of ridicule and mockery.

Cough! Cough!

Under the gaze of countless people, the fallen figure's face was pale, yet it still revealed an unyielding spirit.

"I..."

Lin Xiao struggled to rise, using both hands and feet, but after moving only twice, he spat out several more mouthfuls of blood in succession before passing out.

In just one move, Lin Xiao had been severely injured and crippled.